As BuzzFeed News reported in June, an algorithmic timeline represents a way for Twitter to elevate popular content, and could solve some of Twitter's signal-to-noise problems. It is also widely assumed to be anathema to the platform's typically vocal power users.

Yet, Jack Dorsey, who took the reins of Twitter as permanent CEO in October, has expressed a willingness to rethink the platform's core tenets. “We continue to show a questioning of our fundamentals in order to make the product easier and more accessible to more people,” he said in July. In November, the company killed off the traditional term favorites and replaced it with likes. An algorithmic feed would be, to date, the boldest change so far under Dorsey. Also being rethought: Twitter's 140 character limit, which seems headed for an end as well.

Twitter has been testing the algorithmic timeline with a small group of users. It appears the test went well enough to roll it out more broadly.

UPDATE:

Dorsey addressed the controversy Saturday afternoon following major backlash from Twitter users.